Murphy edges closer towards number six

by admin on July 30, 2013

Karen Murphy will encounter Maria Rigby in the women’s final World number two Karen Murphy has taken another step towards securing her sixth Australian Indoor Championships crown in seven years after booking her berth in the gold medal play-off at Tweed Heads Bowls Club.

The reigning world singles champion was once again at home on the Tweed carpet after dominating the $30,000 event in recent memory, but was pushed to near breaking point by Australian teammate Carla Odgers in the semi-final encounter.

Murphy, whose total trophy-haul is second to only National Coach Steve Glasson’s nine triumphs, managed to overcome a first set hiccup to push the match to the tie-break with a powerful second set, and then sneak across the line in the decider, 7-9, 12-2, 3-1.

“I just love playing here, I feel very at home on the indoor rink,” Murphy said after advancing.

“My experience is definitely an advantage for me so I’ll take that in to tomorrow’s final.”

Murphy’s task is far from complete however, with the Jackaroos vice-captain now pitted against 2005 champion Maria Rigby in the final, staged at 11am tomorrow, after Rigby knocked out Cabramatta’s Lisa Mitchell 11-5, 7-6 in the morning semi-final.

In the men’s competition, Clayton’s Tony Wood, 25, cemented his spot in the playoff after edging out Victorian Under-25 representative Mathew Rennix 10-4, 9-4.

Wood will square off against either Tuggeranong Valley’s Andrew Howie or Burnie’s Mark Nitz, who both have one foot planted in the final but lock horns at 9.00am to decide who secures the last remaining position in tomorrow’s $6,000 final.

Remaining Australian Indoor Championships finals
Men’s semi-final two
Thursday 9am
Andrew Howie (Tuggeranong Valley, ACT) vs Mark Nitz (Burnie, TAS)

Women’s final
THursday 11am
Maria Rigby (Manly, QLD) vs Karen Murphy (Cabramatta, NSW)

Men’s final
Thursday 2pm
Tony Wood (Clayton, VIC) vs Howie or Nitz